NEW YORK - Norway-based electric car manufacturer Think announced that New York City will be one of the first U.S. markets to roll out sales of the Think City all-electric car. 

New York City was tied for third place in the company's recent "EV-Ready Cities Index scorecard," which assessed "which markets are most likely to begin and benefit from the transition to electric vehicles." 

"Bringing the Think City to New York will play a positive role in PlaNYC, the city's comprehensive sustainability plan that seeks to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from 2005 level by 2030," Think said. "The Think City all-electric vehicle provides excellent opportunities for both city fleets and private vehicles operating within the city's borders." 

Think also recently announced plans to establish a U.S. production facility during 2011 in Elkhart, Ind. 

In addition, Think this week announced plans to expand its product development facility at the company's Oslo, Norway headquarters. The company's team of 70 product development engineers and technicians will soon move into a new facility at Fornebu. The center will offer such features as a dedicated climate chamber, dynamometer, rolling road, clean room and several prototype laboratories for electrical and hardware development. 

"This move to our brand-new development center builds upon the continued strengthening of the pioneering Think EV product development team, with new staff being recruited right now to continue and enhance the development of our world-class EV drive-train systems, vehicle control software and EV design," said Think CEO Richard Canny. "We aim to take on 30 to 50 new staff during the course of the next 12 months who will focus on the future development of the Think City vehicle." 

The latest generation Think City is an all-electric car designed for urban environments. It can travel at highway speeds and cover 100 miles on a single charge, with zero local emissions. It is the first EV to be granted certification with the European CE conformity mark and EU homologation requirements (M1 certificate). 

European production of the Think City is underway in Finland with manufacturing partner Valmet Automotive, which also assembles the Boxster and Cayman models for Porsche AG. First customer deliveries are taking place across Europe in selected key EV markets such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Austria.